374 Environ.-of Rime. LICENZA. Volscian Ml.-
The real ascent now begins (guide ncccssarx I, the last, part being very
fatiguing. The traveller should not omit to bring refreshments for the ex¬
cursion. The mountain is badly supplied with water, and the shepherds are
compelled to drink rain-water collected in troughs and hollow trees. On
the summit stands a rude pyramid of stone, which has been used for tri¬
gonometrical surveys. The view is very extensive, comprising the coast from
Mte. Circeo as far as the lake of Baccano, the broad plain with innumer¬
able villages, from the Volscian and Alban Mts. as far as Soracte and
the Ciminian Forest; then the Apennines, as far as the snowy peaks of
the central range.
The descent may be made by the bridle-path, named La Scarpellala,
on the S. slope of the mountain. The villages of Moniicelli and *S. Angelo
arc left on the right. — M. Gennaro may also be ascended from Rocca Gio¬
vine in 5-6 hrs. (guide 3-4 fr.), and this excursion thus combined with the
following, but the village affords very poor quarters for the night.
Valley of Licenza. Traveflers versed in classic lore will naturally be
attracted to this spot, where the Sabine farm of Horace is believed to have
been situated , but its great natural beauty alone renders it an object of
extreme interest. The excursion may cither be made from Tivoli, or com¬
bined with the journey to Subiaco, and driving is practicable nearly the
whole way.
From Tivoli to Vicovaro, G'/a M. (p. 368), and thence to Rocca Giovinc,
3 M., the road is practicable for carriages; to Licenza 2 M. farther. The
small village of Rocca Giovine is charmingly situated on a precipitous rock.
its name is supposed to be derived from Arx Junonis, and a tempic
actually existed here once, possibly the Ronton Vactmce of Horace. Licenza,
another mountain-village, derives its name from the Digentia, now Li¬
cenza, which skirts the base of the hill ('me quoties reficit gelidus Digentia
rivus', Hor. Ep. i. 18, 104). Shortly before the village is reached (guide
from Rocca Giovine xj-z fr.), the scanty remains of a Villa are pointed out,
which is said to have belonged to Horace, but this is a mere hypothesis.
The most recent investigations tend to prove that the poet's Sabine farm
was situated near Rocca Giovine, by the chapel of the Madonna delle Case,
on a lofty plain at the foot of M. Corrignaleto, which in this case would
be the Mons Lucretilis of Horace, instead of M. Gennaro as formerly sup¬
posed. Near this chapel is a spring, called Fontana degli Oratini by the
natives, perhaps the Fans Bandusiae of the poet (Carm. iii, 13).
The shortest route between Rocca Giovine and Subiaco is a path by
Canlalupo, the ancient Mandela ('rigosus frigore pagus', Ep. i. 18, 105).
The Volscian Mountains.
This mountain-range, which attains an elevation of 4600 ft., is separ¬
ated on the E. from the principal chain of the Apennines by the valley
of the Sacco, and on the N. from the Alban Mts. by a narrow depression ; it
extends to the S. as far as the Bay of Gaeta, and on the W. is bounded by
a dreary and in some places marshy plain adjoining the sea. This district
was in ancient times the chief seat, of the Volsci, but was at an early period
subjugated by the Romans and Latinised. Its towns, picturesquely rising
on the mountain-slopes , still bear many traces of the republican epoch of
Italy , which add great interest to the naturai attractions of the scenery.
These mountains, however, have hitherto been seldom visited, partly tin
account of the poorness of the inns, and partly owing to their insecure state,
which has improved only quite recently. An excursion to Cori may be ac¬
complished in one day with the aid of the railway as far as Velletri; so
also that to Segni.
Railway from Rome to Velletri, 25'/2 M., in IY4-IV2 hr. ; fares
3 fr. 30, 2 fr. 30, 1 fr. 65 c. - Velletri, see p. 362.
From Velletri to Com, 11 M. , diligence twice daily in
2 hr;-., leaving Velletri at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (from Cori 6 a.m.
and 2.30 p. in. ; carriage with one horse there and back, 8-10 fr.).
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